POSTED ON TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management has reached the $500 million milestone in its Transforming Together fundraising campaign. A new multimillion-dollar commitment from University Trustee Michael Sacks ’88 MBA, JD and Cari Sacks in support of scholarships for former Chicago Public Schools students pushed Kellogg over this threshold.

“The Kellogg community has demonstrated its extraordinary commitment to the school by making this fundraising achievement possible,” Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro said. “The campaign has literally transformed Kellogg, and we are grateful to everyone who has contributed.”

A hallmark of Kellogg’s campaign, part of We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern, has been the construction of the school’s flagship Global Hub on Northwestern’s Evanston campus. The 415,000-square-foot architectural gem was made possible by the generosity of Trustee Larry W. Gies ’92 MBA and Beth G. Gies; Trustee Christopher B. Galvin ’73, ’77 MBA and Cynthia Bardes Galvin ’78 (’11 P); and Trustee Miles D. White and Kimberly White (’15 P), among many other supporters. Designed to promote learning and collaboration at every scale, the building opened in 2017 and received LEED Platinum status in 2018.

Since Dean Francesca Cornelli joined Kellogg in August 2019, the school has focused on cultivating support for scholarships and academic programs. Kellogg recently announced several key philanthropic commitments, including a transformative gift from Ann M. Drake ’84 MBA to establish the Drake Scholar Network and accelerate the advancement of women in business and a $10 million gift from the Tanoto Foundation to rename the John L. Ward Center for Family Enterprises. Kellogg has also raised more than $9.2 million toward diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives since summer 2020.

During the campaign, Kellogg has raised a total of $120 million in new scholarships, including the largest-ever gift to financial aid at Northwestern, made by Trustee Jeff Ubben ’87 MBA and Laurie Ubben (’11, ’20 P). To date, 31,197 unique donors have contributed to the Transforming Together campaign.

“With the support of our remarkable alumni and friends, we are building a strong future for the school, drawing from our core values of agility, empathy and creativity,” Dean Cornelli said. “Philanthropy promotes the outstanding business education and collaborative ecosystem that is Kellogg.”

Former Dean Sally Blount ’91 MS, ’92 PhD led the fundraising charge for the Global Hub as a part of a broader plan to transform Kellogg and the future of business education. Under Blount’s leadership, the campaign also focused on raising support for thought leadership, global innovation and the educational experience at Kellogg.

“Our global community of supporters rose to the challenge, inspiring us with their deep generosity. I am proud that the Global Hub is a destination for the world’s best students and faculty,” Blount said.

Over the course of the campaign, volunteer leaders such as Trustee T. Bondurant (“Bon”) French ’75, ’76 MBA (’07 P), co-chair of We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern, have played a key role in driving fundraising success and impact.

“It is incredible to see the global Kellogg community come together to build a world-class facility and provide scholarships to students all over the world. This successful campaign is a testament to Kellogg’s collaborative culture,” French said.

Top Transforming Together Donors

Henry D. Bullock ’80 MBA (’17 P)
Ann M. Drake ’84 MBA
Trustee T. Bondurant (“Bon”) French ’75, ’76 MBA and Hollis S. French (’07 P)
A. Charles Funai ’80 MBA
Trustee Christopher B. Galvin ’73, ’77 MBA and Cynthia Bardes Galvin ’78 (’11 P)
Trustee Larry W. Gies ’92 MBA and Beth G. Gies
James R. Russell ’35 MBA
Trustee Michael S. Shannon ’83 MBA and Mary Sue Shannon (’10, ’15 P)
Tanoto Foundation
Trustee Jeffrey W. Ubben ’87 MBA and Laurie Ubben (’11, ’20 P)
Trustee Miles D. White and Kimberly White (’15 P)

Transforming Together Campaign Co-chairs

Trustee W. James Farrell
Richard H. Lenny ’77 MBA

More information on the “We Will” Campaign is available at wewill.northwestern.edu.